Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 60
Nixon White House Tape 60 (June 8, 1971 – June 10, 1971)
4 conversations · Cabinet Room · about 3 hr 38 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Volpe, Krogh, Ehrlichman, Flanigan
President Nixon, Vice President Agnew, and a large group of Cabinet members and senior staff met to establish a strategic framework for domestic policy, budget planning for the 1973 fiscal year, and the development of the 1972 Republican legislative and election platform. Participants reviewed polling data regarding national, community, and family concerns, noting that the economy, inflation, and unemployment are primary public priorities while other issues like pollution and consumerism are often driven by media visibility. The President and attendees emphasized the need for better communication to receive credit for administration accomplishments, focusing on a limited number of 'gut issues' rather than overextending on too many programs. Ultimately, the group discussed the necessity of coordinating policy initiatives and messaging to ensure visible progress on key economic and social concerns ahead of the 1972 election.
President Nixon met with the Amtrak Board of Directors to discuss the corporation's early operational challenges, strategic planning, and its goal of reviving passenger rail service. The conversation focused on the necessity of improving service quality, boosting ridership, and competing with other travel modes by fostering a culture of professional service. The President emphasized the political importance of simplifying government messaging and prioritizing job creation, while the Board members highlighted their progress in labor negotiations and route rationalization.
President Nixon met with a delegation of railroad executives, Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe, and White House staff to discuss the industry's severe financial, regulatory, and labor challenges. The executives emphasized that the industry's viability depends on urgent legislative reform, specifically regarding rate-making procedures, tax relief for capital investment, and the resolution of labor productivity issues like work rules. Nixon acknowledged the systemic nature of these problems and urged the participants to help build public and Congressional support for the administration's forthcoming transportation policy proposals.
A White House tour group explored the Cabinet Room, where they discussed the room's architectural history, including the lowered ceiling and the evolution of the table's size. Participants exchanged anecdotes regarding previous administrations, such as those of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and identified the specific seating assignments for various cabinet officials. The informal session concluded with observations about the room's furnishings and a brief mention of ongoing construction on the White House swimming pool.